Method and construction for package

ABSTRACT

A container and a closure means are formed as a unitary structure constructed of pliable or bindable sheet material. The closure means comprises a pair of flaps lightly biased to closed position, and disposed so that an attempt to remove the container contents before opening the closure means will result in generating forces which assist the biasing means in maintaining the flaps closed. These flaps are also positioned so that upon manual manipulation, without the aid of a tool, the flaps are deformed and become separated to open the closure means and permit the contents of the container to be poured or squeezed out.

Unite States Patent n 1 Farkas [54] METHOD AND CONSTRUCTION FOR PACKAGE[75 i'h'vemary "Robert "131 "Tera; westfield," NJ.

[22] Filed: May 11,1970

[21] Appl. No.: 36,066

[51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 31/14 [58] Field of Search .....229/62.5; 222/213,214, 107; 150/9 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,189,2526/1965 Miller 229/625 3,399,822 9/1968 Kugler. 229/625 3,370,780 2/1968Shaw ..229/62.5

3,272,248 9/1966 O'Farrell. ..150/10 3,174,654 3/1965 Reiner.....222/214 2,546,709 3/1951 Abarr ZZZ/Z13 2,611,515 9/1952 Smith .222/2132,804,257 8/1957 Hasler et al. ..229/62 5 Corella et a1. ..229/62.5

[111 3,709,426 [451 Jan. 9, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 260,4978/1963 Australia ..229/62.5 1,195,226 6/1965 Germany 855,804 12/1960Great Britain ..229/62.5

Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Lee-lair Assistant ExaminerStephen MarcusAttorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen [57] ABSTRACT A container and aclosure means/are formed as a unitary structure constructed of pliableor bindable sheet material. The closure means comprises a pair of flapslightly biased to closed position, and disposed so that an attempt toremove the container contents'before opening the closure means will:result in generating" 2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures METHOD ANDCONSTRUCTION FOR PACKAGE This invention relates to packages in general,and more particularly relates to packages having closure means that areformed simultaneously with formation of the container in aform-fill-seal process.

Plastic film is particularly useful for constructing fluid tightsanitary low-cost packages. Such packages are found particularly usefulfor holding food seasonings in liquid form or suspended in liquid. Inorder to produce such packages at low cost, one typical prior artconstruction is a so-called pillow-pack that is produced on aform-fill-seal machine. The entire contents of form-fill-seal packagesmust be used at the time the package is first opened since the closuremeans is destroyed upon opening thereof.

Because the closure of a form-fill-seal package of the prior art isdestroyed upon initial opening thereof, such packages must be made insmall sizes so that the contents thereof will not be wasted. Even so, asubstantial portion of the contents is usually wasted in that thequantity in each package must be sufficient to satisfy a generousone-shot demand.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide anovel package with a reusable closure.

Another object is to provide a package of this type in which the closureis always biased toward closed position and may be intentionallyopenedthrough manual operation thereof.

Still another object is to provide. apackage of this type in which theclosure closes more tightly when an attempt is made to empty the packagecontents before manually opening the closure. I 6

Yet another object is to provide a package of this type in which theclosure is applied prior to filling of the package.

A further object is to provide a package of this type in which thecontainer portion and the closure elements are constructed of pliablesheet materials.

A still further object is to provide a novel package that ishermetically sealed and is provided with reusable closure means. I

These objects as well as other objects of this invention will becomereadily apparent after reading the following description of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a form-fill-seal package constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustrating the elements for constructing thepackage of FIG. 1 at an early stage in the production cycle.

FIG. 1, looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 with the foam biasingelements for the flaps of the closure means removed for illustrating amodified closure means.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged plan views of the container neck region,showing a further modified version of the closure means. In FIG. 7, theclosure means is in closed position, while in FIG. 8 it is in openposition.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the elements for producing a hermeticallysealed form-fill-seal package in accordance with the teachings of theinstant invention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 3, showing the elements ofFIG. 9 as a hermetically sealed unit.

FIG. 11 is an edge view of a further modified embodiment especiallyuseful for powder and granular material. FIG. 12 is a front elevation ofthe package of FIG. 11.

Now referring to the Figures, and more particularly to the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Form-fillseal package 15 of FIG. 1 isconstructed of heat sealable relatively wide plastic strip 16, typicallysheet vinyl in rollform or pre-cut to length, and relatively narrowstrips 17, 18 of open cell foam plastic. The outer edges of strip 16 areinwardly folded and, as will hereinafter be seen, constitute closureflaps 21, 22, which, in the final product, extend down to line 19 inFIG. 1. Strip 16 is also folded longitudinally in half to form sidewalls 23, 24 for the container portion of package 15. g

Sheet 16, folded substantially flat atthe three fold lines 25, 26, 27,and having foamstrip 17 interposed between flap 21 and wall 23, andhaving foam strip 18 interposed between flap 22 and wall 24, is heatsealed, or welded, along lines 28, 29, to provide generally rectangularbody portion and narrow elongated neck 32 joined to body portion bytapered portion 33. A plurality of packages 15 may be formedsimultaneously, as illustrated in FIG. 3, at which time appropriateperforations are provided for separation of packages 15 from one anotherand removal of excess plastic film material at regions 34. Foam strips17, 18 are positioned at tapered portion 33.

When package 15 is being formed in the heat sealing dies (not shown), ahollow needle extends between closure flaps 21, 22 and below edge, 19thereof, into the interior 35 of body portion 31. It is through suchneedle that package 15 is filled with a gas, liquid paste, powder,granules, and the like. After the needle is withdrawn, foam strips l7,l8 maintain closure flaps 21, 22 in closed position to prevent thecontents of package 15 from leaking out or being poured out. Package 15may also be filled through a discontinuity (not shown) that may beformed in one of theseal lines 28, 29, with such discontinuity beingclosed by heat dicated by arrows A and B inFIG. 1. This causes themid-regions of flaps 21, 22 to bulge outward in opposite directions, andin sodoing form an opening through which the contents of package 15, orany portion thereof, may be removed. As soon as the pressure,asindicated by arrows A and B in FIG. 1, is removed from the neck region32, the biasing means for flaps 21,

22 moves the closure into closed position, and prevents further emptyingof package 15. To facilitate manual opening of closure flaps 21, 22,neck region 32 may be tapered to widen at the free upper end thereof. Itis noted that for some applications mouth region 32 may be as wide asbody portion 31.

. It is noted that package 15 may be constructed without foam biasingstrips 17, 18, in which case the closing biasing force for closure flaps21, 22 is obtained by holding the package forming sheet sections tautwhile heat seals 28, 29 are formed (See FIG. 6).

As an indicator that package 15 has not been tampered with prior toinitial usage thereof, during production of package 15, after it hasbeen filled with a measured quantity of material, air under pressure isadded. The first time closure means 21, 22 is opened, the escape of thispressurized air will give an unmistakable indication that package 15 hasnot been tampered with. If the initial opening of valve 21, 22 does notgive a clear indication that pressurized gas is escaping, this is apositive indication that package 15 has been tampered with. As a furtherindicator that tampering has not taken place, wall 23 or 24 may beprovided with a small section that protrudes when there is sufficientpressure within package 15, but when this pressure drops this smallsection recedes.

FIG. illustrates a modified construction for a formfill-seal package. Inthe construction of FIG. 5, the side walls are formed of individualsheet 41, 42, as are closure flaps 43, 44. Before foam strips l7, 18 aresealed in place and before walls 41, 42 are sealed together, flapforming strip 43 is heat sealed at 45 along the upper edge of wallforming strip 41. Similarly, flap forming strip 44 is sealed at 46-al0ngthe upper edge of wall forming strip 42. In the die means used toconnect the elements of FIG. 5, a single generally U-shaped seal line isformed, with the arms of the U having shapes corresponding to seal lines28, 29 and the web of the U being along the bottom edges 41a 42a of wallforming strips 41, 42, respectively. As an alternative, wall formingstrips 41, 42 may be combined as a single member longitudinally folded.Also, strips 43, 44 may be formed integrally with the respective strips41, 42. 7

When package is being formed a combination die and vacuum mold may beused in which case the various layers are stressed in such a manner thateven without film strips 17, 18 or any other separate biasing means,closure forming flaps are still biased to closed position. Vacuumforming permits use of a semi-rigid plastic to form the containerportion, in which case the upper end of the body portion sides areformed with aligned inward protrusions to which the central regions ofthe respective closure flaps are connected. By appropriate manualmanipulation (squeezing) of the container the protrusions separate,thereby opening the closure.

In the embodiment of FIGS.;7 and 8, the closures forming flap 51, 52 areconstructed of semi-rigid film that is transversely scored at 53, 54,respectively, so that when pressure is applied in'the directionsindicated by arrows C and D in FIGS. 7 and 8, score lines 53, 54 provideweakened areas that encourage opening separation of valve elements 51,52.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the construction of and method for producing ahermetically sealed form-fillseal package 70. Such package isconstructed of relatively wide plastic strips 61, 62, having closureflap forming relatively narrow plastic strips 63, 64, respectively, heatsealed thereto at points spaced from the upper edges of strips 61, 62.Strips 61, 62 are brought together and heat sealed along a line forminga closed loop indicated by side sections 67, 68, bottom section 69 andtop section 71. The latter section 7 l is formed after the fillingneedle is withdrawn from between closure flaps 63, 64. As analternative, section 71 may be formed at the same time as the othersections 67 69 are formed, but one of the latter group is initiallyformed with a discontinuity forming an opening for filling 81, 82indicate heat seal lines along which flaps 63, 64 v are bonded to oneanother. These diverging heat seal lines 81, 82 provide relatively 'tautconnections between the free edges of flaps 63, 64 and body formingmembers 61, 62 at heat seals 67, 68. The lower ends of heat seals 81, 82are spaced at the free edges of flaps 63, 64 at region 83, where flaps63, 64 may separate to form an opening to the neck region of package 70.

Package of FIG. 12 is especially useful for powder and granular materialbeing formed of web 91 shown in the edge view of FIG. 11. Web 91 isfolded at three places to form confronting long panels 92, 93 andconfronting short panels 94, 95 with inner panels 93, 94 confronting oneanother with their respective free edges 93a, 940 being spaced from foldline 96 connectirig outer panels 92, 95.

Parallel heat seal lines 88, 89, extending perpendicular to and betweenfold lines 96, 97, extend through all four panels 9295. Heat seal lines86, 87, inboard of lines 88,89 and parallel thereto, connect innerpanels 93 and 94. Seal lines 86a, 87a .extending' left and right fromlines 86, 87, respectively, to seal lines 88, 89, respectively, connectinner panels 93, 94 at fold line 9 The contents of package 90 are loadedand emptied through the portion of the space between inner panels 93, 94bounded by seal lines 86, 87, and through the space between free edge93a'and fold line 96. Such contents will occupy the space between longerpanels 92, 93 and cause bulging, which brings the lower flap I formingportion of panel 93 into engagement with flap forming panel 94 tonormally close package 90.

The construction of package 90 eliminates the necessity for themanufacturer to close the package after filling thereof. The customermay use package 90 in a conventional manner by cutting same at or nearfold line 97 to provide an opening. Depending upon the dimensionsthereof, package 90 is opened for reuse, inserting a finger. or handbetween inner panels 93, 94 and deflecting them in opposite directions.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides a novel unitarypackage having reusable closure, thereby permitting the user to dispenseless than the entire contents of the package without the danger that theremaining portion of the contents will accidentally pour out. The flapmeans with a flexible interface constituting the closure is connected tothe outside of the I package so that manual manipulation, without theaid of a tool, is effective to open the closure. It is noted that forsome applicationsa single flap may provide an effective closure. Whilethe foregoing invention has herebefore been described in connection withwhat would appear to be small size packages, the construction principlespreviously described are advantageous for larger packages, such as aquart container of milk or oil and a fifty-pound bag of granularfertilizer, and may be used for packages constructed of many types ofpliable materials beside sheet plastic. Such materials include coatedand uncoated papers, as well as laminates typically including plasticwith metal and/or paper.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novelinvention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited notby the specific disclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege orproperty is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A unitary package structure including a container having opposed sideedges and a mouth portion at one end of said side edges, said mouthportion having an opening through which contents of said container areemptied in selected amounts,and a reusable closure means for normallyclosing said opening, said closure means including flap means withinsaid container operatively positioned so that an unintentional attemptto empty such contents from said container will normally direct suchcontents against the flap means to automatically operate said closuremeans to a closed position thereby confining such contents within saidcontainer; said closure means proportioned and operatively connected tosaid side edges so that through manual manipulation of said side edgessaid closure means is operable to an open position wherein a selectedamount of such contents may be emptied through said opening; biasingmeans normally urging said closure means to said closed position; saidbiasing means and contents of said container providing reinforcingforces to maintain the closure means closed during attempts to emptysaid container when said closure means is in said closedpo sitiomsaidcontainer being constructed of first and second opposed layers; saidflap means including third and fourth opposed layers constituting firstand second cooperating flaps respectively; each of said layersconstructed of plastic sheet material; heat seals connecting togetherall of :said layers in their operative positions with said third andfourth layers positioned between said first and second layers; saidflaps including weakened regions so positioned that upon the applicationof oppositely directed forces at the heat sealed lateral edges of saidflaps the flaps will separate at the central region thereof by bendingalong lin s define b said weakened re i ns A pac a e structure as seorth in claim 1, in

which; the closure means is operated to said open position solely byexerting convergingforces at said side edges of said flap means. I l l

1. A unitary package structure including a container having opposed sideedges and a mouth portion at one end of said side edges, said mouthportion having an opening through which contents of said container areemptied in selected amounts, and a reusable closure means for normallyclosing said opening, said closure means including flap means withinsaid container operatively positioned so that an unintentional attemptto empty such contents from said container will normally direct suchcontents against the flap means to automatically operate said closuremeans to a closed position thereby confining such contents within saidcontainer; said closure means proportioned and operatively connected tosaid side edges so that through manual manipulation of said side edgessaid closure means is operable to an open position wherein a selectedamount of such contents may be emptied through said opening; biasingmeans normally urging said closure means to said closed position; saidbiasing means and contents of said container providing reinforcingforces to maintain the closure means closed during attempts to emptysaid container when said closure means is in said closed position; saidcontainer being constructed of first and second opposed layers; saidflap means including third and fourth opposed layers constituting firstand second cooperating flaps respectively; each of said layersconstructed of plastic sheet material; heat seals connecting togetherall of said layers in their operative positions with said third andfourth layers positioned between said first and second layers; saidflaps including weakened regions so positioned that upon the applicationof oppositely directed forces at the heat sealed lateral edges of saidflaps the flaps will separate at the central region thereof by bendingalong lines defined by said weakened regions.
 2. A package structure asset forth in claim 1, in which; the closure means is operated to saidopen position solely by exerting converging forces at said side edges ofsaid flap means.